Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [121]
There's also a tiny museum chronicling island history. Note: Island Packers schedules boats to Santa Barbara only between April and November. (See "Getting to the Islands by Boat," earlier in this chapter, for more information.) Day Hikes. Hiking the short Canyon View Nature Trail is a good introduction to Santa Barbara, but since it's such a small island, it's not that difficult to hike all three of the island's main trails (they add up to just 5.5 miles). All trails begin and end at the campground and visitor center.
The Elephant Seal Cove Trail heads southwest from the visitor center to the west coast of the island, then heads up by Webster Point, a favorite beach for sea lions and elephant seals, and continues to Elephant Seal Cove.
The Arch Point Loop Trail heads north from the visitor center to Arch Point, the northernmost tip of the island. It then turns south, following the island's northwestern bluffs, before turning inland and crossing the Elephant Seal Cove Trail. Once across the Elephant Seal Cove Trail, the trail becomes the Signal Peak Loop Trail and continues southwest and up Signal Peak. It then follows the bluffs around the southern portion of the island, cutting inland briefly to bypass Cat Canyon. Once on the southeastern side of the island, the trail heads up to Sea Lion Rookery, where it runs inland to the middle of the island and then north back to the visitor center.
Camping. Camping is allowed on Santa Barbara year-round. Note, though, that all gear must be carried up the 131 steps to the campground, located approximately ¼ mile inland. The 10 campsites are primitive; there are pit toilets, but food, water, and shade are not available. No fires are allowed, but cooking is permitted on enclosed backpack-type stoves. There is a nightly $10 per site charge for camping, and a reservation is required. Permits can be obtained at the park visitor center or by calling ☎ 800/365-CAMP [2267] or visiting http://reservations.nps.gov; campground reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to call in advance.
The Extra Mile: Exploring the Coastline & Waters off the Channel Islands
Sea Kayaking. One of the best ways to explore the fascinating coastline of the islands is by kayak. Island Kayakers (☎ 805/390-8213; www.islandkayakers.com) organizes self-guided sea kayak trips to Santa Cruz. The excursions allow you to explore sea caves and rock gardens. Channel crossing by charter boat, brief lessons, and camping fees are included. Prices generally run $150 per person. Aquasports (☎ 800/773-2309 or 805/968-7231; www.islandkayaking.com) and Paddle Sports (☎ 888/254-2094 or 805/899-4925; www.kayaksb.com), both headquartered in Santa Barbara, offers guided trips (starting at $175 per day per person). Trips can also be arranged through Island Packers or Truth Aquatics (see "Diving," below).
Diving. Half of Channel Islands National Park is underwater. In fact, twice as many visitors come annually to dive the waters than ever set foot on the islands. Scuba divers come here from all over the globe for the chance to explore stunning kelp forests, shipwrecks, and underwater caves, all with the best visibility in California. Everything from sea snails and urchins to orcas and great white sharks call these waters home.
Truth Aquatics in Santa Barbara (☎ 805/962-1127; www.truthaquatics.com) is the best provider of single- and multiday dive trips to all the islands, with 1-day trips beginning at $94. Ventura Dive & Sport (☎ 805/650-6500; www.venturadive.com) also offers guided trips, instruction, and rentals, as does Pacific Scuba in Oxnard (☎ 805/984-2566; www.pacificscuba.com).
Where to Stay in Ventura
Although no accommodations other than camping are available